Kenya: Lobby says public health gains of tobacco control outweigh commercial benefits for investors
"Lobby calls for stringent tobacco laws"
Campaigners fighting tobacco trade have petitioned the Ministry of Health to stringently enforce the Tobacco Control Act saying its public health benefits outweigh commercial gains for cigarette makers. “The petition is to call for more effective implementation of Tobacco Control Act in the country and support the steps the government has taken so far,” said International Institute for Legislative Affairs chief executive Emma Wanyonyi...
Cigarette firms and anti-tobacco campaigners have in recent weeks sharply differed over the effect of stringent tobacco controls that the manufacturers say will breed parallel trade. Kenyan cigarette makers and traders were late last year saved from immediate implementation of the tough laws after the Court of Appeal issued a stay and the State allowed dealers time to sell old stocks...Besides requiring new cigarette packs to display graphic health warnings, the regulation prohibits sale of single cigarette sticks and only allows full packets. The regulations call for standardised packaging displaying graphic health warnings on cigarette packs.